If you want to stay safe throughout the winter season, you will definitely need the right tires: are you trying to choose between the Continental Viking Contact 7 vs the Blizzak WS90? These two excellent winter tires were designed for many types of vehicles, from sedans and vans to SUVs.
Blackcircles Canada helps you choose the best winter tires available on the market. To help you decide which model is right for you, check out our winter tire buying guide!
Overview of the Continental Viking Contact 7
The Continental Viking Contact 7 is offered in sizes ranging from 15 to 22 inches. The German brand designed this tire to deliver increased grip in winter conditions. Its main features are:
- A silica compound with canola oil for advanced grip
- Unique groove pattern to maximize water drainage
- Increased rigidity of the interlocking blocks
- High-density 3D siping
- An innovative directional tread design
Its unique tread was designed to make the Viking Contact 7 one of the quietest and most comfortable tires by reducing vibration, but it also delivers many other advantages.
This design also emphasizes block rigidity to further improve handling on all surfaces. Since these are winter tires, they need to perform well on a variety of surfaces. That’s why their design includes numerous elements, like the high-density 3D siping. These bite into snow and ice to prevent skidding and improve handling.
Driving during the cold season also means you will have to deal with melting snow. This tire’s unique groove pattern optimizes water evacuation for increased safety on wet surfaces and on slush… not an unusual obstacle during the winter!
The Continental Viking Contact 7 can handle all winter conditions.
Overview of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Bridgestone, the Japanese tire manufacturer, is renowned worldwide for the quality of its tires: let's take a look at what the Bridgestone BlizzakWS90 has to offer. This model is available in sizes ranging from 14 to 20 inches. Among others, it features:
- A directional tread
- 3D zigzag sipes
- New rubber compound
- Innovative block and siping designs
- Rubber compound with bite particles
- Greater block rigidity
Since this tire features a directional tread, you can expect it to perform excellently on wet surfaces from day one. In fact, its groove design allows water to be drain quickly from under the tires.
The Japanese manufacturer went even further by developing its new Multi-Cell technology, which uses a new chemical compound to improve the tire’s braking power. In fact, braking distances are reduced by 15%, regardless of the surface, since this hydrophilic compound quickly displaces and drains water to stabilize the tire!
The 3D siping was designed to bite into the snow and ice, while the embedded bite particles generate additional grip. These particles are integrated into the tire’s compound to act like small studs, and they are 15% more numerous than in the WS80.
The Blizzak WS90 features 30% stiffer blocks to further improve handling while also enhancing its durability: according to Bridgestone, this model will last one winter longer than its predecessor.
The new and improved Blizzak winter tire is a great example of Bridgestone’s commitment to excellence and innovation.
Choosing between the Continental Viking Contact 7 and the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
As we've seen, both the Continental Viking Contact 7 vs the Blizzak WS90 are excellent winter tires. Let's see how they compare and how they differ, so you can make an informed decision.
For starters, we can see that both models rely on similar technologies. For example, both models feature tread blocks with increased rigidity. This technology was developed to improve handling and, above all, increase the life of the tires. Both models did so with great success.
Although their designs are different, both use a directional tread pattern to optimize the evacuation of water and slush.
But despite these similarities, numerous tests have shown Bridgestone to be the clear winner in this category. In fact, thanks to its use of a hydrophilic compound, the Blizak WS90 performs excellently on wet roads. Its braking distances and accelerations on wet surfaces are hard to beat.
That's not to say that the Continental model isn't effective on wet surfaces, quite the contrary. The Viking Contact 7 performs well on wet roads, but its true strength is its performance on snow and ice.
In fact, its braking, acceleration and overall handling on snow and ice rank among the very best in its category. Its new silica compound includes canola oil, allowing tire to remain very flexible even in the most extreme winter conditions.
Both of these two models also offer excellent traction on snow and ice.
However, when it comes to rolling comfort, the German manufacturer is comfortably ahead of its competitor. The Continental model is quieter than ever thanks to its new tread, and the difference is huge. You will definitely enjoy a more comfortable ride with this tire, while the Blizzak delivers a rougher ride.
Clearly both of these are exceptional tires, and the differences between the Continental Viking Contact 7 vs. the Blizzak WS90 are mainly their performance on wet roads and their driving comfort. It’s up to you to decide what is best for you!
Warranty Comparison
Even if both are exceptional winter tires, consumers will still appreciate a good warranty. It is important to make sure that the company will stand by their products in the event of a problem. Both of these models are backed by a standard limited warranty that covers all defects with the materials or the manufacturing of the tire.
Bridgestone also adds a 90-day Buy & Try Guarantee, allowing you to return or exchange the tires if you are not satisfied. That’s a great offer!
As for Continental, their satisfaction guarantee lasts only for 60 days. However, they also offer a 3-year Total Confidence Plan, which includes roadside assistance with tire changes, towing and road hazard protection, so you can enjoy an added sense of security.
Which one will you choose? Whatever you decide, you can always make your purchase online with blackcircles, the best place to buy tires online at the lowest prices on the market.
